Date: Sun, 19 Apr 1998 14:31:46 -0500 From: Nikolas Kauer <nkauer@students.wisc.edu> To: "'Daniel Haischt'" <sirabyss@gmx.net>, "'Jonathan M. Bresler'" <jmb@FreeBSD.ORG>, "freebsd-advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG" <freebsd-advocacy@FreeBSD.ORG> Subject: Differentiating FreeBSD from Linux Message-ID: <01BD6B9F.E2760780.nkauer@students.wisc.edu>
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Hi all, I would like to second the call for more discussion on promoting FreeBSD relative to Linux. I learned UNIX from scratch on a FreeBSD system and am thankful for this rewarding experience. I went with FreeBSD rather than Linux after reading several encouraging articles in a computer magazine (c't). Ever since I tried to learn more about the difference between FreeBSD and Linux. "The Complete FreeBSD" by Greg Lehey refers to Linux in two sentences (p. 3 binary compatibility, p. 68 FIPS, 1st ed.). A small number of questions in the mailing lists gave hardly more information, except what everybody knows anyway (like Berkley BSD heritage, core team structure, reportedly very stable, but much more commercial software for Linux, almost binary compatible). Many people I talked to, being more familiar with commercial UNIXes like OSF and HP-UX, didn't see a difference at all. Being a scientist, I always looked for something like a facts/specs sheet comparing Linux and FreeBSD. In my impression--and you are welcome to correct me--so far, FreeBSD is mostly perceived as "the alternative" free UNIX OS for PCs (no specific features attached). Last but not least, this is also the impression the "Walnut Creek CDROM Fall 1997-98 Catalog" gives. I think it would help the FreeBSD project to differentiate more from Linux. FreeBSD has a strong, self-confident community, with no reason to be afraid of an open comparison with Linux. I also agree with Jonathan: propaganda-style mud-slinging doesn't help both, FreeBSD and Linux, in gaining ground relative to the Wintel behemoth. PS I'd get a couple of stickers, great idea. --------------------------------------- Nikolas Kauer, kauer@pheno.physics.wisc.edu To Unsubscribe: send mail to majordomo@FreeBSD.org with "unsubscribe freebsd-advocacy" in the body of the message
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